A Statistical Study of Scalp Tumors (1993-2002)

Yu, Dong Kee; Cho, Kwang Hyun; Woo, Kim Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There were many statistical studies about skin tumors. However, no articles have been reported which focus on the scalp tumors up to the present. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to analyze the epidemiologic aspect of scalp tumors, and compare them with other data related to skin tumors. METHODS: A statistical analysis was made using 251 cases of scalp tumors which were confirmed by histopathological study from January 1993 to December 2002 at Seoul National University Hospital. RESULT: 1. In the 251 cases of scalp tumors, 197 cases (78.5%) were benign scalp tumors, and 54 cases (21.5%) were malignant scalp tumors. 2. Among the 197 cases of benign scalp tumors, the most common tumor was nevus sebaceus (19.3%), followed by seborrheic keratosis (13.7%), epidermal cyst (10.2%), trichilemmal cyst (9.1%), lipoma (7.7%), intradermal nevus (7.1%), neurofibroma (6.1%). 3. Among the 54 cases of malignant scalp tumors, the most common tumor was metastatic cancer (31.5%), followed by basal cell carcinoma (18.5%), angiosarcoma (9.3%), squamous cell carcinoma (9.3%), lymphoma (7.4%), and so on. 4. Male to female ratio of benign scalp tumor was 1.3:1 and that of malignant scalp tumor was 1.1:1 5. The distribution of age of benign scalp tumor was relatively even from childhood to old age, but that of malignant scalp tumor showed that about 70% of cases were over 4th decade. 6. The distribution of each department which performed scalp biopsy was the following ; department of dermatology (49.2%), plastic surgery (21.8%), neurosurgery (17.3%), general surgery (11.2%), pediatrics (0.5%) at benign scalp tumor and department of dermatology (37%), neurosurgery (20.4%), plastic surgery (16.7%), general surgery (7.4%), internal medicine (7.4%), urology (5.6%), otolaryngology (3.7%) and emergency medicine (1.9%) at malignant scalp tumor.